(1336) Electronic Health Records in Community Pharmacies: Capturing Current Experiences in Pennsylvania

Objectives: The objective is to investigate the experience of select community pharmacies in Pennsylvania that have gained access to and are utilizing a shared electronic health record (EHR). In the broader context of healthcare, EHRs have become integral tools for healthcare providers to securely and efficiently store, manage, and exchange patient health information, thereby enhancing the quality and coordination of care. Researchers have recognized that extending EHR access to community pharmacists presents a promising opportunity to improve patient care. This expansion of access enables pharmacists to have a comprehensive view of a patient's medical history, medications, and treatment plans, which can contribute to better-informed medication management. Despite this potential, the widespread adoption of EHRs in community pharmacy practice has encountered several obstacles, hindering their integration into routine workflows. Nevertheless, a few community pharmacies in Pennsylvania have overcome these implementation barriers and successfully integrated EHRs into their daily operations. By describing their experiences and best practices, this project aims to provide valuable insights that can assist other community-based practices and healthcare systems in their collective efforts to implement EHRs in community pharmacies.

Methods: This is an exploratory qualitative project that will utilize semi-structured interviews for data collection. Pennsylvania community pharmacy team members from pharmacies that have EHR access are eligible for inclusion. We will use a complete target sampling approach to identify key informants. The interview guide will consist of open-ended questions and be informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Interviews will elicit information on how EHR access was implemented in the practice and how it is used to support patient care. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A deductive rapid qualitative analysis will be conducted by the research team to characterize the data. The research team will develop case vignettes capturing the experience of each of the pharmacies included. This project will be submitted for review to the University’s Institutional Review Board.

Results: Interviews are planned for November 2023 – January 2024. Research in progress.

Conclusions: Broad EHR access in community pharmacies would support pharmacists in their ability to use clinical judgment and make decisions about an individual’s care plan and can improve interprofessional communication across disciplines and settings. By capturing the experience of select pharmacies that have implemented shared EHRs, other community-based practices and/or health systems may gain insight into the implementation process.